Army Film & Photo Section (PR)

Ramiles · Dec 31, 2020

NPMS said: ↑

Hello. I've just registered today, prompted by this thread.
My father Eddy "Smiler" Smales was in the first batch of volunteers to the AFPU. He served in the Middle East & North Africa, then in NW Europe all the way from Normandy to Berlin.
I am close to competing Dad's biography which tells lots of tales about his adventures and those of his mates, who included Bill Ginger, Ian Grant and Dennis Smith, the people whose citations Diane has shared recently.
In a rush now but I will say more when I've more time.
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Re. "Bill Ginger" - he is, albeit very briefly, mentioned in passing here...Frank Covey - Army Film & Photographic Unit Living History Group

Edit: Army Film & Photographic Unit
Has a WW2 Roll of Honour

Major G. Keen Lieut. I. Murray F/Lt. D. Gallai Hatchard
Sgt. F. Martin Capt. H. Rignold MC P/o. R.F. Woodiwiss
Sgt. R.W. Day Sgt. G. Crapper F/o. W.H.J. Mills Criox de Guerre
Dvr. J.R. Taylor Sgt. J. MacAndrew F/Lt. W.E. Wilbur
L/Cpl. T. Freeston Sgt. W. Smith W/o. E.R. Trumper
Sgt. E.A. Coleman Spr. S. Rose F/o. J.S. Peacy
Sgt. H. Ames Dvr. H. Turvey F/o. J.E. Morris
Dvr. R.J. Plaister Lieut. S.H. Kessell F/o. M.A. Oakley
Dvr. M. McGee Pte. G.O. Ford F/o. P.N. Herbert
L/Cpl. A. Mills Sgt. D.H. Robinson W/o. J.L. McKee
Sgt. W.N. Clague Lieut. L. Davies P/o. S.J. Smith
Sgt. A.C. Gross Dvr. D. Matthews F/o. A.J. Newell
Sgt. R.V. Watkins Dvr. J.E. Insley F/Lt. S.L.Woodcock
D/R J. Rennie

The Memorial Wall at Pinewood Studios

Plus later info including...

"ROLLOF HONOUR COMPILED 2009
This list comprises former members, within our knowledge, who have died since the Unit was disbanded.
It includes PR and War Correspondents who were closely linked with the Unit and joined them at the early re-unions.
Not all first names are known, and is the most comprehensive list available, but probably not complete."

brithm · Aug 21, 2022

Award M.B.E. Lt. Leonard Chetwyn, No. 2 A.F.P.S. (287875)

The aforementioned officer has served with the Army Film and Photo Unit since it came to the Mediterranean Theatre of War. He has served with the Eighth Army through the summer battles of 1942, Alamein, Tripoli, Sicily and Italy. The success of our efforts in the film and Photo world are in no small measure due to the superb technique and devotion to duty of this officer . Despite very bad health he insisted on discharging his duties until he was ordered to hospital where it was found necessary to post him to U.K.
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WO 373/90/176

Liverpool Evening Express 30th June 1944

Liverpool Echo 27th June 1944

brithm · Aug 21, 2022

Award Bronze Star Sgt. William Fairlie Lawrie, No. 5 Army Film and Photo Section, RAOC (2985965)

The object f No. 5 Army Film and Photo Section is to obtain cine and still photographs of troops in action for records and publicity. Going into battle with a camera requires a very high level of morale if it is to produce good results. When the 6th Airborne Division 'dropped' across the Rhine in March under command 18 U.S. Airborne Corps, Sjt. Lawrie was attached to the 3rd Parachute Brigade and in the operations following the 'drop' he displayed a courage and resource far beyond the normal call of duty. His bearing and performance drew high praise from the Commander 3rd Parachute Brigade to O.C. No. 5 Army Film and Photo Section.
He is recommended for the Bronze Star Medal for distinguishing himself by heroic achievement not involving participation in aerial flight. As result of his efforts was that some outstanding film of troops in action under U.S.-British command was obtained and this through the medium of news reels and film the whole world is able to have evidence of the tough fighting qualities of the Airborne soldier.
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WO 373/147/446

Dundee Evening Telegraph 09 October 1945

Stirling Observer 9th October 1945

Lawrie, William Fairlie (Oral history) | Imperial War Museums (iwm.org.uk)

Cee · Aug 21, 2022

Hi,

The Stirling Observer clipping on Lawrie:

"... One of his exciting experiences was when dressed in the uniform of a German Officer he was dropped in occupied France a week before D-Day for the purpose of taking photographs of the flying bomb sites. ..."

... mmmh really? Anything more to this story?

Regards ...

brithm · Aug 21, 2022

Think this may have come from Lawrie, he seems to be a bit of a joker, supposedly he and Ian Grant were accused of taking Donitz' "diamond encrusted silver Iron Cross", they let slip that the cross had been buried under a cherry tree back of their billet had Field Security officers digging up in the back garden.

Reel 2 15:00

Lawrie, William Fairlie (Oral history) | Imperial War Museums (iwm.org.uk)

brithm · Aug 21, 2022

Award British Empire Medal Sjt. Charles James Dawson, M.i.D. R.A. (H.A.A.) No. 2 Army Film and Photo Section (P.R.) (1637188)

This Serjeant has served as a Still Photographer with No. 2 AFPS in Sicily and throughout the Italian campaign. He has show great initiative, dash and skill in the execution of his work. Where necessary he has never hesitated to take considerable risks in the photographic illustration of the battle. On numerous occasions he has continued to do his job coolly and efficiently under heavy fire. Shortly after the break through of the Gustav Line he was attached to the French who specially commended him for his kenned and efficiency. With them he was wounded in the execution of his duty. After a period in hospital he went back to this ob of battle photography with the same efficiency and willingness to take risk as before

He then volunteered along with another Serjeant for service with No. 1 Special Force behind the enemy lines. For reasons outside his control, his entry into Northern Italy was delayed and as a result of the rapid advance of the armies, some opportunities hoped for did not materialise. The results he obtained, however, show energy and technical skill which are quite outstanding.
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WO 373/75/58

Wounded Italy 19th May 1944

brithm · Aug 21, 2022

Award Military Medal Sgt. John Harry Barlow Radford, No. 2 Army Film and Photo Unit (885752)

In the first 4 days of the breakout from the Anzio beachhead this Sgt. Displayed great personal courage and initiative in obtaining battle pictures. On the 23rd May 1944 he was with a forward Company of the Green Howards who made a diversionary attack over the River Moletta. The attack was met with very strong resistance and heavy artillery, mortar and small arms fire. The results of his work show great concentration on his task and a complete disregard for his own safety.

The following day he made the journey through the unchecked Pontine Marshes for the Fifth Army join-up. Then he went up to Atena, taking many pictures of street fighting and Tank attacks through the streets. Again on the next day he was the first cameraman into Carrocetto and the factory area taking pictures for two hours under heavy shelling and machine gun fire. Here again his work showed a willingness on his own to run the gravest risks to do his job well.

Besides these 4 days, Sergeant Radford has shown great initiative and bravery for 18 months being almost continuously occupied in Battle Photography. He has been in the first flight on 5 assault landings and he has never failed to show the greatest disregard for his personal safety in the performance of his task.
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WO 373/8/126

Anzio Photos Radford took on 22nd May 1944

Was also Mentioned in Despatches

West London Observer 1st December 1944

Ramiles · Nov 3, 2022

Amongst the photos here : Simmerit's build of the R.A. crossing over wooden bridges into Tunisia in 1943 - West Desert Build

Ramiles · Nov 10, 2022

Re. AFPU Sergeant Ronald Victor "Vic" Watkins, 6209830... kia 21d1m1945...

(Nb by coincidence - Search Results | CWGC
Another R.V.Watkins ( a private) was recorded as having died on the same day...
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2256156/richard-vivian-watkins/ )

AFPU Sergeant RONALD VICTOR WATKINS

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2619112/ronald-victor-watkins/

SERJEANT RONALD VICTOR WATKINS
Service Number: 6209830
Regiment & Unit/Ship
Middlesex Regiment
2nd Bn.
Date of Death
Died 21 January 1945
Age 26 years old
Buried or commemorated at BRUNSSUM WAR CEMETERY. VI. 292. Netherlands
Secondary Unit, Regimentattd. Fifth Army Film Unit.
Country of Service : United Kingdom
Additional Info : Son of Allan Douglas Watkins and Rose Hannah Watkins; husband of Beatrice Frances Watkins, of Battersea, London.
Personal Inscription : IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR HUSBAND. WE LOVED HIM TOO DEARLY TO EVER FORGET

IWM tag - as Sgt.Watkins -
Find an object | Imperial War Museums

----- x -----

IWM AFPU Portrait photographs

Has... "Vic Watkins"...

----- x -----

https://www.afpu44.co.uk/DeVryNo27

Has details including...

Living History Group
Army Film & Photographic Unit
Our camera collection includes a number of 35mm cine cameras, one of which is DeVry No.27, which through research at the Imperial War Museum we have identified as the camera used by Sergeant Vic Watkins of the AFPU from D-Day +1 until he was killed in action in January 1945. The camera was later issued to Sergeant Mike Lewis and used by him to film the liberation of Bergen Belsen, and for the rest of the war.
DeVry No.27 is an example of the Type B that was specially modified for use by the AFPU following their experiences in North Africa with the Type A. From research undertaken to date it appears that the modificatiosn to the body and lens mount were undertaken in the DeVry factory and some such as the addition of the viewfinder and mods to the clockwork motor, by the AFPU technicians in the UK.
Link is to some information on the history of the camera and some images of the camera as it currently stands.
DeVry No.27

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Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

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